This slow cooker minestrone soup is packed with fresh veggies, beans and seasonings. Pop everything in your slow cooker and come home to a warm and comforting meal.
I’m typically all about soup throughout the fall, but this year with the warmer weather I simply haven’t had a craving for it. Last week we had a little spurt of cold weather and I got all excited. I immediately pulled my slow cooker out and whipped up this soup.
It’s funny because I actually really dislike cold weather, but if there’s ever I time I can tolerate it, it’s during the holidays. Temps in the high 60s and 70s around Christmas just doesn’t feel right. Plus, with how warm it’s been I feel like we’re going to be dealing with winter weather until late March. Ugh!
Anyhow, enough about the weather. Let’s talk about this minestrone soup and how much good stuff is packed in it! It’s got:
Vegetables: carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage and zucchini. So much veggie goodness!
3 different types of fiber and protein-rich beans: white beans, garbanzo beans and kidney beans
Lovely Italian flavor from all the seasonings and spices: basil, oregano, parsley and parmesan
It tastes great the first night, but even better the next. Isn’t that always the case with soup? The more time it has to marinate, the better!
I made this last week while my cousin and her family were in town for the evening. I wanted something easy so that I could spend time visiting with her sweet babies rather than cooking in the kitchen. This soup fit the bill. And everyone loved it.
Like most minestrone soups this one is a little brothy, which I like, but it’s nice to have something (like bread or crackers) to dip. Isaac brought home a loaf of crusty bread from Idle Hands Bread and it was perfect! Another option is to add some cooked rice before serving. I should also note that I added a hefty squeeze of sriracha into my bowl of soup for some extra heat — I highly recommend it. 🙂
If you make this slow cooker minestrone soup be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting us know how it turned out. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and our readers!
This slow cooker minestrone soup is packed with fresh veggies, fiber-rich beans and seasonings. Pop everything in your slow cooker and come home to a warm and comforting meal.
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 celery hearts, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14-oz can of diced tomatoes
1 white potato, peeled and chopped into cubes
1/2 head savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
2 medium zucchini, chopped into small cubes
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 15- oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Hi Cindy. I’m not 100% sure because I’ve seen some slow cooker recipes with brown rice done both ways. I think it should be fine to add it uncooked at the beginning, but I’m not sure how much liquid the rice will soak up SO I think I’d recommend cooking the brown rice separately and adding it before serving. That way you can eye it and add just the right amount. I think it will be delicious and extra filling with the rice. Let me know how it turns out for you!
One of my go-to slow cooker meals. Have shared the recipe with friends who love it as well. It’s very light and healthy, but is delicious! I usually make one batch, use half for lunch for the week and freeze the other half. It freezes and reheats beautifully.
Thank you so much for coming back to comment and leave a rating for this recipe. It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy it and I love knowing that it freezes and reheats well.
Can this soup be frozen? Am single and want to make this recipe but there’s no way I can eat 8 servings, haha! I get nervous freezing things as sometimes the food (especially some vegetables) do not thaw and reheat well.
I made this soup 3 times over a two-week period. That’s how much I loved it. It’s now August and I’m still craving this soup. I have to go easy on the salt and ended up adding some balsamic vinegar for flavor. Can’t tell you how much it added to the flavor. Delicious.
I’m not sure how many cups are in a bowl but the recipe should make around 8 servings. I used MFP to calculate the nutrition facts as well. Be sure to check all the ingredients and nutrition facts when you import. I found that sometimes when you import the recipe things can get misinterpreted. Maybe that’s what is causing the discrepancy?
Totally on my grocery list for making this week! I LOVE my slow cooker. I work full-time and it’s only my husband and me now that the children are grown and gone. My enthusiasm for coming home from work and cooking dinner has diminished so the slow cooker is perfect!
Having to do some conversions (I’m in the UK!) Is it 160ml (2 cups) of water PLUS 1 litre (32oz) of stock? Was given a slow cooker for Christmas, so I’m new to this! Looks so yummy, can’t wait to make!
I love how colorful this soup is! I also like that no noodles are included. Most minestrone recipes include them and I’m not a fan, but this looks and sounds delicious!
It’s definitely been warmer than normal down here in south Louisiana (still wearing t-shirts and shorts!) but I’ve still been craving soup! Also, love that little mug <3
This soup was amazing! I made some substitutions based on what I had at home. I swapped cabbage for a 1/2 head of cauliflower, omitted the parmesan cheese rind and chickpeas, added kale and a little extra carrots/celery. I used a little extra broth (finished one I had open then another new one) and used whatever spices I had (oregano, marjoram, bay leaf). I made it in my Dutch oven Le Crueset and sauteed veggies in stages to bring out flavors (onions, then garlic, then carrots/celery, other veggies, etc.) I served it with fresh feta and cold pressed EVOO on top. My husband who is a carnivore loved it. He especially loved the potato in there which gives the soup more substance. Thank you, Brittany!
Thank you, Melissa. Funny story about the soup bowl. Isaac had one growing up and loved it, but somehow it got lost or broken. His good friend remembered how much he liked it and ended up finding one at a thrift store in New York for him. I was really excited because I really like vintage dishes. 🙂
If you want more soup bowls like that one then you can get them on Ebay but, boy will they ever get you on shipping. Im going shopping today and will make this tomorrow.
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I’m really excited to try this. I think I might try rutabaga instead of potatoes to decrease calories and carbs a little.
Someone mentioned adding brown rice. Do you think it should be added raw at the beginning or cooked at the end?
Hi Cindy. I’m not 100% sure because I’ve seen some slow cooker recipes with brown rice done both ways. I think it should be fine to add it uncooked at the beginning, but I’m not sure how much liquid the rice will soak up SO I think I’d recommend cooking the brown rice separately and adding it before serving. That way you can eye it and add just the right amount. I think it will be delicious and extra filling with the rice. Let me know how it turns out for you!
One of my go-to slow cooker meals. Have shared the recipe with friends who love it as well. It’s very light and healthy, but is delicious! I usually make one batch, use half for lunch for the week and freeze the other half. It freezes and reheats beautifully.
★★★★★
Thank you so much for coming back to comment and leave a rating for this recipe. It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy it and I love knowing that it freezes and reheats well.
Can this soup be frozen? Am single and want to make this recipe but there’s no way I can eat 8 servings, haha! I get nervous freezing things as sometimes the food (especially some vegetables) do not thaw and reheat well.
Do you need to drain the beans?
Great question! All the canned beans in the recipe should be drained and rinsed. I’ll go in and add that to the recipe instructions.
Do you know what the sodium content is?
★★★★★
I made this soup 3 times over a two-week period. That’s how much I loved it. It’s now August and I’m still craving this soup. I have to go easy on the salt and ended up adding some balsamic vinegar for flavor. Can’t tell you how much it added to the flavor. Delicious.
★★★★★
What size serving is 1 bowl? Also, when I imported your recipe into MFP it came out to be 446 calories. How did you calculate yours?
I’m not sure how many cups are in a bowl but the recipe should make around 8 servings. I used MFP to calculate the nutrition facts as well. Be sure to check all the ingredients and nutrition facts when you import. I found that sometimes when you import the recipe things can get misinterpreted. Maybe that’s what is causing the discrepancy?
Totally on my grocery list for making this week! I LOVE my slow cooker. I work full-time and it’s only my husband and me now that the children are grown and gone. My enthusiasm for coming home from work and cooking dinner has diminished so the slow cooker is perfect!
Having to do some conversions (I’m in the UK!)
Is it 160ml (2 cups) of water PLUS 1 litre (32oz) of stock?
Was given a slow cooker for Christmas, so I’m new to this!
Looks so yummy, can’t wait to make!
Sorry that you’re having to do the conversions. I hope it turns out to be delicious for you! 🙂
Should this be Savoy cabbage? I’m unclear about what would be considered savory cabbage?
Yes! Sorry for the confusion. 🙂
Added brown rice, amazing! Best meal to come home to after a long day 🙂 thanks!
★★★★★
So glad that you enjoyed it, Rachel!
ooooo digging this recipe!!! I love myself a good minestrone soup. Such a healthy comfort food style soup. Pinning this for sure!
Minestrone is one of my all time favorite soups and I’ve been dying for a killer recipe- consider this one pinned 🙂 It looks delicious!
Thanks Jen. I hope you get a chance to try it. 🙂
This soup looks so good! I love soup during the cold winter months. It’s the best!
http://www.thesparklingdarling.com
I love how colorful this soup is! I also like that no noodles are included. Most minestrone recipes include them and I’m not a fan, but this looks and sounds delicious!
Lots of delicious veggies, and lots of fiber rich beans. I love this soup with it’s packed full combination of goodness. 🙂
It’s definitely been warmer than normal down here in south Louisiana (still wearing t-shirts and shorts!) but I’ve still been craving soup! Also, love that little mug <3
Ahhh I love slow cooker soups, and haven’t had minestrone soup in for-e-verrrrr. Looks and sounds delicious, and adding sriracha is never a bad idea!
Right? I add sriracha to everyTHING! 🙂
I LOVE this recipe and I love that soup bowl! Where is the soup bowl from, if you don’t mind me asking?
This soup was amazing! I made some substitutions based on what I had at home. I swapped cabbage for a 1/2 head of cauliflower, omitted the parmesan cheese rind and chickpeas, added kale and a little extra carrots/celery. I used a little extra broth (finished one I had open then another new one) and used whatever spices I had (oregano, marjoram, bay leaf). I made it in my Dutch oven Le Crueset and sauteed veggies in stages to bring out flavors (onions, then garlic, then carrots/celery, other veggies, etc.) I served it with fresh feta and cold pressed EVOO on top. My husband who is a carnivore loved it. He especially loved the potato in there which gives the soup more substance. Thank you, Brittany!
Thank you, Melissa. Funny story about the soup bowl. Isaac had one growing up and loved it, but somehow it got lost or broken. His good friend remembered how much he liked it and ended up finding one at a thrift store in New York for him. I was really excited because I really like vintage dishes. 🙂
If you want more soup bowls like that one then you can get them on Ebay but, boy will they ever get you on shipping. Im going shopping today and will make this tomorrow.
Ebay always kills us on the shipping!! I hope you enjoy the soup!! 🙂